While cell phones become increasingly popular among De Anza students, recent studies about the risk of cancer presumably caused by cell phones concern some students.

“I’ve heard from [the] news about a person [who] died from using [a] cell phone five hours a day for two to three years,” said Mark Chou, a De Anza student. “That person seemed to hold the phone next to his ears all the time.”

Chou works for Advanced Cellular, Inc., a company that sells cellular phones and plans to its customers.

According to Chou, cell phone radiation could do serious harm to people. “It’s like standing right beside a microwave,” said Chou.

According to an article on TechTV.com, “[The] emissions [from cell phones] are classified as microwave radiation, just like the ones generated by your microwave oven. The difference is that the radiation from your cell phone is about one one-thousandth the strength of the radiation from your microwave oven. But the radiation from your cell phone is transmitted right next to your skull.”

However, according to the Daily Orange, Syracuse University’s newspaper, there is no definite link between cell phone use and cancer.

“Researchers at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center tested 891 cell phone users and concluded that there is a slightly increased risk. The researchers, headed up by Mark Malkin, also said that the risk was not statistically significant, Lapp wrote.

Despite the results of the study, Chou said he would still adopt a “better safe than sorry” approach. “I would preferably turn off my cell phone while not in use,” said Chou.

He turns off his cell phone when he is asleep or in a bad reception area. “I think the radiation gets stronger when the signal is weak,” said Chou.

According to Chou, cell phones also get hot after being used for more than ten minutes and if left on, the heat would increase the temperature in the eyes, which is causing eye damage.

“Unless we are asked, we don’t usually talk to our customers about the risk of radiation because that would affect our business,” said Chou, “Nonetheless, we would encourage them to do the research themselves.”

According to TechTV, Cell phone makers in the United States are starting to label the levels of radiation emitted by their products. While all cell phones on the market fall well within emission guidelines imposed by the government, many believe consumers should be given the information.

Chou suggested that there are two ways to eliminate the effect of radiation on users. One is using a donut-shape sticker providing a radiation filter next to the ears. “I personally don’t think it works very well,” said Chou. The other is using a headset. The risk of cancer doesn’t prevent students from using cell phones.

“Until the final research [on cell phone radiation] is revealed, I wouldn’t jump to any conclusion and would still use [cell phones on occasion],” said Ling Hu, another De Anza student who sometimes shares Chou’s cell phone.

“The convenience of being able to connect to people anytime anywhere is the reason why we keep our cell phones,” said Chou.

U-Wire writer Leon Lapp contributed to this report.